Nazi Parades and Public Spectacles

Elliot, Hamish and Connor

Introduction

• The Nazi Party actively used Parades and Marches during the 1920’s and earl 1930’s

• This was to raise the profile of the party• Intimidate voters and opposition• Create the impression of a large, well supported and

disciplined organisation• Theatricality of these marches (wearing uniforms,

medals, banners and choreographed singing) captured many people’s attentions

Book Burnings

• Berlin- May 1933• Carried out by the National Socialist German

Student Body• Ceremony to burn books by pacifist, socialist,

Jewish and other authors whose ideologies were seen to be subversive to Nazi ideology

• Heinrich Heine, German Jewish Poet: “Where they burn books, one day they will burn human beings…”

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/nazi-book-burnings-remembered/7196.html

Nuremburg Rallies

• Annual rally of the NSDAP in Germany held from 1923-1928

• Used as a large Propaganda event especially after Hitler's rise to power

• They gathered to listen to his speeches

• These rallies consisted of flags, stirring music accompanied the marching columns and salutes

• Films were made of these rallies and were shown in cinemas so

even non- participants

could be over-awed

by the experience• www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilXVkgmJk2E

WHY ALWAYSME?

Key Celebrations in Nazi calender

• 30 January- Day of seizing of power• 24 Feb- Anniversary of founding of party• March (1st Sunday)- Commemoration of heroes• 20 April- Hitler’s BIRTHDAY WOOP!! (house party at Hamish, he

won’t hear the music)• 1 May- National Labour day• May (2nd Sunday)- Mother’s day• 21 June- Summer solstice• July (2nd Sunday)- Day of German culture• September- Nuremberg rally• October- Harvest• 9 November- Remembrance of Munich Putsch• 21 December- Yuletide

Meetings, Rallies and festivals

• Attracted Nazi supporters and bystanders that might be juan over

• Goebbels said that rallies transformed a person from a little worm into part of a large dragon

• On festival days streets would be festooned with swastika flags

• Failure to support this might be reported to the Gestapo

Sport

• Government coordinated various sporting bodies under a Reichssportfuhrer

• Hitler Youth/DAF organised mass sporting activities e.g. gymnastics• These were used to improve the fitness of soldiers and improve

health for child bearers• Government made great efforts to ensure the Berlin 1936 Olympics

were a propaganda success• On new stadium there was a memorial to all dead soldiers, thus

linking sport and militarism• Hitler: “He who wishes to live must also fight and he who will not

strive in this world of struggle does not deserve the gift of life”

THANK YOU